General information


Subject type: Optional

Coordinator: Adso Fernández Baena

Trimester: Third term

Credits: 6

Teaching staff: 

Montserrat Rabassa Jou

Skills


Specific skills
  • E7. Develop video games in interpreted languages ​​to prototype gameplay, user experience and balance.

General competencies
  • G3. Gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their area of ​​study) to make judgments that include reflection on relevant social, scientific, or ethical issues.

Description


Introduction to databases focuses, in its first part, on the relational data model and the mechanisms that allow the access and manipulation of relational databases (SQL) and in the second part, on the conceptual modeling of data.

This subject has methodological and digital resources to make possible its continuity in non-contact mode in the case of being necessary for reasons related to the Covid-19. In this way, the achievement of the same knowledge and skills that are specified in this teaching plan will be ensured.

Learning outcomes


At a general level, this subject contributes to the following learning outcomes specified for the subject to which it belongs (Software Engineering):

  • Appropriately use theories, procedures and tools in the professional development of computer engineering in all its areas (Specification, design, implementation, deployment -implantation- and product evaluation) so as to demonstrate an understanding of the commitments made in design decisions.
  • Use the tools of a software development environment to create and develop applications
  • Understand and use manuals, product specifications and other technical information written in English effectively.

At a more specific level, at the end of the course the student must be able to:

  • LO 1: Acquire an overview of what a database is and a database management system.
  • LO 2: Acquire knowledge of the theories that support the relational model
  • LO 3: Define, create and manipulate the usual components of a relational database
  • LO 4: Use current tools to exploit a relational database using SQL, in order to enter, modify, and extract information from a DBMS.
  • LO 5: Create conceptual data models of organizational realities at an initial level.
  • LO 6: Transform using conceptual CASE tools into relational logical models and obtain the corresponding physical model.

Working methodology


All the theoretical concepts of the subject will be treated in the theory classes (large groups) of the subject. In these classes the basic concepts of databases are introduced demonstrating their application in exercises solved by the teacher. It is recommended that students read the material published on the virtual platform before each session. In the classes the participation of the students will be asked individually or in group, to solve different problems proposed with or without anticipation. These activities, which due to their optional nature and brevity are not reflected in this document, will serve the student as a tool for self-assessment of their achievement of the contents of the subject and may be used by the teacher to take decisions on the final grade of the student but never to the detriment of the numerical grade calculated according to the grading system indicated above.

The more practical concepts will be worked in small groups (laboratory) where works of medium complexity are presented, which require the application of the knowledge acquired in the most theoretical classes. These sessions will provide the appropriate tools to solve the scheduled activities but it is expected that these will be extended from a temporal point of view, beyond the laboratory hours and that, consequently, students will have to complete them during autonomous learning time.

This course, due to the situation generated by COVID, some of the large group sessions will be held in hybrid format: face-to-face and online (via streaming). This will allow students to rotate to face-to-face classes, respecting the maximum number of students per classroom imposed by the distance measures. When they are not in contact, they will be able to follow the class online from home.

With regard to internship sessions in smaller spaces (such as laboratories, studios or sets), where appropriate, work will be carried out simultaneously in several spaces in order to ensure that the conditions established by the safety protocols are met.

Contents


Block 1. Introduction to databases

Database basics. File Systems. Database Systems. Concept of database management system (SDBD). Advantages and disadvantages of comics

Block 2. The relational model

Basic concepts of the relational model. Model structure. Integrity restrictions. Exercises.

Block 3. The data definition language (DDL)

Data types. Creating tables and integrity constraints. Creating views. Exercise resolution.

Block 4. The data manipulation language (DML)

Queries on a single table. Queries on various tables. Summary queries. Groupings. Use of subqueries. Functions. Database modifications. Exercise resolution.

Block 5. Introduction to the conceptual model of data and logical design

Database design process. Data models. Basic concepts of the conceptual model. Business rules. Entities and associations. Weak entities. Reflective entities. Associative entities. Generalizations. Creation of conceptual models. Transformation of the conceptual model: Transformation of the associations one_to_many, many_to_many, one_to_one and reflective, transformation of the associative entities, of the weak entities and transformation of the generalizations. Improvements to the initial logical model.

 

 

Learning activities


A series of activities of an eminently practical nature (short exercises, problems ...) are made available to students, which are the basis of the learning activities of the subject. These activities will have to be solved by the students, often in a non-contact way, following the instructions of the teachers and will also be worked in class, either as examples in the theory sessions, or in the laboratory sessions. Although these activities will be optional (teachers will not individually verify the performance by students), they will be essential to achieve the theoretical and practical knowledge of the subject.

In order to gather evidence of the achievement of the expected learning outcomes, the following evaluative activities are carried out (practices and exams):

PRACTICE 1

  1. General description: In this practice, students have to solve different problems posed using SQL. In this session we work on the data definition part (DDL) and data manipulation statements (UPDATE, DELETE, INSERT). Students must complete, in the hours dedicated to autonomous learning, all the problems posed.
  2. Deliverable and links to the evaluation: It is necessary to deliver the entire resolution of the practice and a brief personal assessment of the work done. Weighting: 10% of the final grade.
  3. Specific objectives: At the end of the activity the student must be able to interact with a corporate DBMS using the SQL language.
  4. Learning outcomes: Carrying out this activity gives evidence of the learning outcomes RA1, RA2 and RA3.
  5. Skills: This activity covers the following common and specific competences (in brackets the most relevant aspects of each competence to which the subject contributes stand out)
    • CIN1 (design and develop databases ensuring quality and reliability)
    • CIN3 (acquire effective work habits in database development environments)
    • CIN12 (proper use of databases)
    • EFB4 (acquire programming knowledge with SQL to define and manipulate data)

PRACTICE 2

  1. General description: In this practice, students have to pose SQL query statements (SELECT) to different proposed problems. Sentences include access to various tables, groupings, group conditions, .... Students must complete, in the hours dedicated to autonomous learning, all the problems posed.
  2. Deliverable and links to the evaluation: It is necessary to deliver the entire resolution of the practice and a brief personal assessment of the work done. Weighting: 10% of the final grade.
  3. Specific objectives: Upon completion of the activity the student should be able to interact with a corporate DBMS using SQL.
  4. Learning outcomes: Carrying out this activity contributes to the achievement of learning outcomes RA1, RA2 and RA4
  5. Skills: This activity covers the following common and specific competences (in brackets the most relevant aspects of each competence to which the subject contributes stand out)
    • CIN3 (acquire effective work habits in database development environments)
    • CIN12 (proper use of databases)
    • EFB4 (acquire programming knowledge with SQL to query data)

PRACTICE 3

  1. General description: Practice focused on students getting a conceptual model from a statement, using a CASE tool, which includes the basic components of the model. Students must complete, in the hours dedicated to autonomous learning, all the problems raised.
  2. Deliverable and links to the evaluation: It is necessary to deliver the conceptual model created with the CASE tool and a brief personal assessment of the work done. Weighting: 10% of the final grade.
  3. Specific objectives: At the end of the activity the student must be able to use a CASE tool for the creation and documentation of a basic conceptual data model.
  4. Learning outcomes: Carrying out this activity gives evidence of learning outcomes RA1, RA5.
  5. Skills: This activity covers the following common and specific competences (in brackets the most relevant aspects of each competence to which the subject contributes stand out)
    • CIN1 (design and develop databases ensuring quality and reliability)
    • CIN3 (acquire effective work habits in database development environments)
    • CIN12 (proper use of databases)
    • EFB4 (start in the analysis of medium-sized problems to continue the design and implementation of solutions in the field of databases)

PRACTICE 4

  1. General description: This practice aims for students to practice the process of transforming a conceptual model into a physical model and from this obtain the database, using CASE tools. Students must complete, in the hours dedicated to autonomous learning, all the problems posed.
  2. Deliverable and links to the evaluation: It is necessary to deliver the entire resolution of the practice and a brief personal assessment of the work done. Weighting: 5% of the final grade.
  3. Specific objectives: At the end of the activity the student must be able to obtain the database from a conceptual model and document the entire creation process, using CASE tools.
  4. Learning outcomes: Carrying out this activity gives evidence of learning outcomes RA1, RA 6.
  5. Skills: This activity covers the following common and specific competences (in brackets the most relevant aspects of each competence to which the subject contributes stand out)
    • CIN1 (design and develop databases ensuring quality and reliability)
    • CIN3 (acquire effective work habits in database development environments)
    • CIN12 (proper use of databases)
    • EFB4 (start in the analysis of medium-sized problems to continue the design and implementation of solutions in the field of databases)

WRITTEN TEST OF THE FIRST BLOCKS

  1. General description: Individual test of the theoretical concepts and practical procedures of the first whole blocks of the subject.
  2. Deliverable and links to the evaluation: Resolution of the test. This test represents 15% of the final grade of the subject.
  3. Learning outcomes: Carrying out this activity gives evidence of the learning outcomes RA1, RA2, RA3 and RA4.
  4. Skills: This activity covers the following common and specific competences (in brackets the most relevant aspects of each competence to which the subject contributes stand out)
    1. CIN1 (design and develop databases ensuring quality and reliability)
    2. CIN3 (acquire effective work habits in database development environments)
    3. CIN12 (proper use of databases)
    4. EFB4 (acquire knowledge of programming with SQL to define, manipulate and consult data)

WRITTEN TEST OF ALL BLOCKS

  1. General description: Individual test of the theoretical concepts and practical procedures of the subject
  2. Deliverable and links to the evaluation: Resolution of the test. This test represents 50% of the final grade of the subject.
  3. Learning outcomes: Carrying out this activity gives evidence of learning outcomes RA1, RA2, RA3, RA 4, RA5, RA6.
  4. Skills: This activity covers all common and specific competencies of the subject (in parentheses the most relevant aspects of each competence to which the subject contributes stand out)
    1. CIN1 (design and develop databases ensuring quality and reliability)
    2. CIN3 (acquire effective work habits in database development environments)
    3. CIN12 (proper use of databases)
    4. EFB4 (acquire programming knowledge with SQL to define, manipulate and query data and start in the analysis of medium-sized problems to continue the design and implementation of solutions in the field of databases)

In order to pass (pass) the assessment activities, students must demonstrate:

  • That they have acquired the theoretical knowledge related to the contents of the subject and that their understanding allows them to put them into practice [MECES-2 point a, point c]
  • That they can develop solutions to problems that, although they are similar to others seen above, present aspects that are new [MECES-2 point f]

In relation to the basic competences assigned to the subject, these are covered especially with regard to the aspects that are explained:

  • CB2: problem solving within their area of ​​study
  • CB4: transmission of information and solutions

Finally, and with regard to the transversal competences associated with the subject:

  • CT1 (third language knowledge) competence that is worked from documentary sources that students must consult, since some of them are in English.
  • CT2 ((teamwork) competence that is worked in the activities of practices, realized in groups of two students and in which they have to contribute and agree the solutions of these activities.

Rules for carrying out learning activities

For each activity, teachers will be informed of the particular rules and conditions that govern them. One-on-one activities presuppose the student's commitment to carry them out individually and without any collaboration with other people. All activities in which the student does not comply with this commitment to individuality will be considered suspended (grade 0), regardless of their role (sender or receiver) and without this excluding the possible application of other sanctions in accordance. with the current Disciplinary Regime.

Likewise, the activities to be carried out in groups presuppose the commitment on the part of the students who make it up to carry them out within the group and without any kind of collaboration with other groups or people who are alien (group individuality). All activities in which the group has not respected this commitment regardless of its role (sender or receiver) and without this excluding the possible application of other sanctions in accordance with the current Disciplinary Regime will be considered suspended (rating 0).

In the particular case of the internships, when in any of them the commitment of individuality is not respected and / or fraudulent means are used in its accomplishment, the qualification of end of the practices PRACTICE will be, for all the members of the group, of 0 points independently of the qualification of the other practices and without this exclude the possible application of other sanctions in agreement with the current Disciplinary Regime.

Any activity not delivered will be considered scored with zero points. It is optional for teachers to accept or not deliveries outside the deadlines indicated. In the event that these late deliveries are accepted, it is up to the teacher to decide whether to apply a penalty and the amount thereof.

Evaluation system


The subject is evaluated based on the grades of the following activities:

TEST: WRITTEN TEST OF ALL BLOCKS

PRACTICE 1

PRACTICE 2

PRACTICE 3

PRACTICE 4

The calculation of the part of theory and practices of the asignatura calculates taking into account these formulas:

THEORY = TEST

PRACTICE = 0,1 PRACTICE1 + 0,1 PRACTICE2 + 0,1 PRACTICE3 + 0,05 PRACTICE4

And the final grade is obtained:

  • If THEORY <4 the final grade is the THEORY grade
  • Otherwise, the final grade of the subject is THEORY + PRACTICE

Recovery

The theoretical part of the subject (THEORY) can be recovered as long as the weighted grade obtained is less than 5 (excluding those not presented). Internships cannot be recovered, under any circumstances.

For students who attend the resit exam their THEORY grade will be the one obtained in this test and the final grade will be calculated with the weights detailed above and in no case will it exceed 5.

REFERENCES


Basic

Silberschatz, Abraham; Korth, Henry; Sudarshan, S. "Fundamentals of Databases". Sixth edition. Madrid-McGraw-Hill-Education, 2014. ISBN 978-84-481-9033-0.

Elmasri, Navathe. Fundamentals of Database Systems, Global Edition, Seventh Edition. Pearson

Complementary

Jason Price. Oracle database 12c SQL. Publishing Oracle Press McGraw-Hill Osborne Media, 2013.

Connolly T., Begg C .. Database Systems .. Pearson Addison-Wesley, 2005.